Taking Action: Volunteers Needed To Raise Service Dogs

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MADISON, Ala. (WHNT) Dogs are man's best friend and for many people they are also their lifeline.

September is National Service Dog Month a time to celebrate the work dogs do in helping people with disabilities live independent lives.

Behind every service dog there is thousands of hours of volunteer training that must be completed, but Canine Companions for Independence is in desperate need of volunteers. The non-profit group provides service dogs to people with disabilities across the country free of charge.

They rely on volunteers to raise the dogs from puppies. In Madison Gloria Favor has been involved in raising the very special dogs for several years.

"I do it because they really do help people, and that feeling of knowing you are helping someone else be independent is so great," Favor said.

Favor along with a handful of other puppy volunteer raisers provide a home for the puppies until they are old enough to be placed with a disabled person.

Jeffery Adams is an Iraq war veteran who lost his leg when and IED went off five years ago. Today Adams has a Canine Companions for Independence service dog. He says the nonprofit has changed his life since he was injured.

"The organization as a whole is just awesome, these people give two and half years of their life, their time, money, love and effort in training these dogs for people like me," Adams told WHNT News 19.

If you, or someone you know, may be interested in a volunteer position, please call 407-522-3304 for further information.